Skid Steer Attach Front Brush Hog On My Tractor !

[deal14]

I have a 2016 LS 6168C 70 HP 4x4 tractor. I need a new brush hog and have been flirting with the idea of a 72" Skid Steer Rotary Brush Cutter / Bush Hog attachment Reg Low Flow-$199 Ship | eBay Quick Tach 6 foot front mower. It takes 14-21 GPM to run, so I'm figuring would have to install a PTO pump. Seems like a good idea that you don't have to look back and the grass don't get run over before you mow it etc. etc. Anyone do this set up ? Pros ? Cons ? Is it worth it ?

 

[nybirdman]

If using for brush;it means you will driving over all the "sharp pointy things".Better foam your tires.
Just had a couple acres cleared with a similar unit mounted on a tracked skid-steer.Sounds real low for flow needed;he had a 65 H.P.(40 gal/min.) skid steer.

 

[Dave M7040]

The low flow hydraulic units cannot produce horsepower out of thin air.

While they may be able to rotate the cutter at the correct rpm, it will slow down real quick with a load on it.

You are going to be driving over stuff that will easily tilt up and puncture your rad or fuel tank if your tires survive.

Dave M7040

 

[Rustyiron]

You won't be happy with this set up.
I have a "Ambusher" mower for my SS (for tall brush & saplings) I've put it on my tractor and even on what I'd consider flat ground, the mower being about 8' ahead of the front tires would exaggerate the smallest 2-3" dip into a foot of up & down at the front of the mower.

 

[deal14]

You won't be happy with this set up.
I have a "Ambusher" mower for my SS (for tall brush & saplings) I've put it on my tractor and even on what I'd consider flat ground, the mower being about 8' ahead of the front tires would exaggerate the smallest 2-3" dip into a foot of up & down at the front of the mower.

Thanks for the reply's. I know he tractor wont have enough gpm thats why I figured an auxiliary pto pump. I figured with it hanging out front it would not follow the ground nice like a rear mower. Even though I really would hardly ever use it for brush, more to maintain my horse pastures twice a year, maybe this is a bad idea !

 

[rustyshakelford]

Thanks for the reply's. I know he tractor wont have enough gpm thats why I figured an auxiliary pto pump. I figured with it hanging out front it would not follow the ground nice like a rear mower. Even though I really would hardly ever use it for brush, more to maintain my horse pastures twice a year, maybe this is a bad idea !

Kinda like coming up with a 10 lb solution for a 2 lb problem. Shredders are the good standard for a reason. I agree that you wouldn't be happy with a FEL mounted mower due to how it'll ride and run. Get a 8' twin spindle and have at it

Brett

 

[JWR]

I owned a cutter almost identical to the one you show on the link. Pictures below. I wanted to use BOTH a rear bush hog and the front cutter and was led to believe my tractor would handle it (which maybe on paper it does.) However, the front cutter will absolutely require more flow than your tractor provides. (you are 100% right there.) Even with my combiner valve that adds rear lift flow to aux flow theoretically giving me around 15 gpm the cutter just worked on light material but would bog down way too easily on brush. Unsat for sure. The cutter itself was a real beast and capable of cutting very heavy material -- 3 double edged blades, heavy thick ones. I think you would be fine with a pto driven aux pump. HOWEVER: skidding all the time is not the comfort and freedom you enjoy with a rear hog. Essentially ALL tractors have one-track-mind open center hydraulics which means the minute you use loader positioning you cut off flow to the cutter & vice versa. Fixes for that problem were prohibitive even if I had adequate flow, which I did not. The concept of running both a rear hog and front cutter was a real go-getter but not with ordinary utility tractors in the under 100 hp range. In my opinion if you are very serious going that route (both rear and front cutters at same time) then you need a big assed tractor with a 3pt hitch both front and back and pto both front and back. Takes your bank and mine both to pay for it. On top of other things, most FELs are not all that happy maneuvering a 1500 lb object dangling that far out front. Neat that you can cut things from the top down however !

 

[3Lfarms]

I'd look for a large-ish PTO flail mower.
I got lucky and found a Berti ditch/bank mower for $500. It's very heavy duty and my 6168 CPS handles it well, but I would not try to hang a 1200 lb ditch mower on anything smaller. I could see how you could put a smaller machine on its side with that beast hanging way off the side with touchy hydraulics.
Mine is an older 6.5' version of this one. They recommend 60 hp minimum for mine. Not so much for the power, but for weight and cat 2 hitch.
Berti 57" Flail Ditch Bank Mower, Hedge & Orchard Mower